Pope Francis to Visit Sweden to Observe her Reformation Commemoration

The Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity (PCPCU) and the LWF, has confirmed that the Holy Father will be visiting Sweden for a joint ecumenical commemoration of the state of Reformation that will take place on 31st October, 2016.

Leading the commemoration will be the Pope Francis, LWF President Bishop Dr Munib Younan and General Secretary Rev Dr Martin Junge in cooperation with the Church of Sweden and the Catholic Diocese of Stockholm.

The joint ecumenical event takes place ahead of the 500th anniversary of the Reformation in 2017 and will include a common worship based on the recently published Catholic-Lutheran “Common Prayer”, a liturgical guide to help churches commemorate the Reformation anniversary together.

Rev Junge explained that the Lutheran World Federation is “approaching the Reformation anniversary in a spirit of ecumenical accountability”.

“I’m carried by the profound conviction that by working towards reconciliation between Lutherans and Catholics, we are working towards justice, peace and reconciliation in a world torn apart by conflict and violence.” Rev Junge

Cardinal Koch, president of the PCPCU, added: “By concentrating together on the centrality of the question of God and on a Christo-centric approach, Lutherans and Catholics will have the possibility of an ecumenical commemoration of the Reformation, not simply in a pragmatic way, but in the deep sense of faith in the crucified and resurrected Christ.”

Cardinal Koch, president of the PCPCU, added: “By concentrating together on the centrality of the question of God and on a Christo-centric approach, Lutherans and Catholics will have the possibility of an ecumenical commemoration of the Reformation, not simply in a pragmatic way, but in the deep sense of faith in the crucified and resurrected Christ.”